Feb. 7, 2002
ATLANTA – The Georgia Tech women’s basketball team placed four players in double-figure scoring and used a 16-3 rally over the final 5:22 to claim a 69-57 win over NC State on Thursday night at Alexander Memorial Coliseum. The win by the Yellow Jackets snapped a three-game winless streak against the Wolfpack and sent State to its fifth loss in the last seven games.
“This was a very big game for us and a great win,” said Tech head coach Agnus Berenato. “I thought our team played with a lot of heart and chemistry tonight.”
The Yellow Jackets (14-8, 7-5 ACC) looked to pull away early in the contest, building a 17-8 lead midway through the first half on the strength of three points from Milli Martinez and four from freshman Nefertiti Walker. The Wolfpack (11-11, 5-6 ACC) answered with a 5-0 run of its own to close the gap to 17-13 on a fast-break layup by Nanna Rivers. Tech then staged yet another run, this time a 9-4 spurt made the score 26-17 with 3:16 to play in the half.
NC State closed to within four at the intermission, 29-25, on a jumper by Amelia Labador. Sonja Mallory was the top scorer in the game at the half, as she had seven points, while Walker and Martinez added six apiece for the Jackets.
With the start of the second half, the Wolfpack knotted the game at 29-29 on a jump shot by Rachel Stockdale with 18:36 remaining. The two clubs traded baskets for much of the first ten minutes of the half, with neither team being able to build more than a four-point advantage, which Tech took by a 39-35 score at the 13:34 mark. State then closed the gap once again as four points from Talisha Scates tied the contest for the fifth time at 43-43 with 10:11 to play.
Kaayla Chones completed a three-point play with a free throw at 5:22 to make the score 54-53 in NC State’s favor, but a three-point play by Martinez just 15 seconds later gave Tech the lead for good at 56-54. Down the stretch, the Jackets made seven of 10 free throws to seal the win and hold off any NC State rally for the final 69-57 margin. Included in that was a 4-of-6 performance at the line by Martinez, who scored seven of her game-high 16 points in the final 5:22.
Martinez notched her second double-double of the year with 10 rebounds to go along with her 16 points. She shared game-high scoring honors with Mallory, who also netted 16 points, scoring in double figures for the eighth-straight game. Tech’s two other double-figure scorers were Regina Tate and Walker, who finished with 12 and 10 points respectively.
“Milli really stepped up tonight,” said Berenato. “You always need your seniors to come up big for you and I think Milli did that tonight.”
The Jackets dominated the boards in the game, holding the Wolfpack to just nine rebounds in the second half to claim a 46-27 advantage on the glass. Tech’s 29 defensive rebounds surpassed NC State’s game total.
Chones, who finished with 13 points and eight rebounds, led the Wolfpack in the contest. Nanna Rivers joined her in double figures with 10 points.
The Yellow Jackets will now have the weekend off before travelling to Virginia for a game on Monday night. That contest will tip off at 7 p.m. and be broadcast on the ACC Regional Network.
